When you play a sport, there’s always the risk of getting hurt. Whether you or your child are participating in a competitive game, training, or practice, it’s important to know the types of injuries that can occur, as well as how to prevent and treat them.
This useful explainer breaks down common sports injuries, and provides helpful prevention and treatment advice.
Types of Injuries
- Lacerations: This tear in soft body tissue appears jagged. It’s typically contaminated with bacteria or debris. When playing a sport, you may get cut by equipment, another player, or a fall.
- Facial Trauma: This involves any trauma to the face, ranging from a broken nose to lacerations on the cheek.
- Skin Punctures: This soft tissue tear is similar to a laceration, except it’s even. These can be caused by teeth, tacks, or nails.
- Sprains: Overstretching causes these ligament tears, commonly affecting the ankle.
- Muscle Strains: Similar to a sprain, these can also result from pulled or overstretched muscles, fatigue, or overuse.
- Swollen Muscles: Overuse and increased energy output can cause inflammation and fluid buildup.
- Fractures: Falls or collisions can lead to broken bones.
- Dislocations: Your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, or jaw can move out of position from a fall or blow.
Whether you or your child are participating in a competitive game, training, or practice, it’s important to know the types of injuries that can occur, as well as how to prevent and treat them.
Prevention
Although wounds are sometimes unavoidable, several ways to prevent an injury include:
- Take Breaks: Take one to two days off from exercise or the sport, per week. If training, extend this recovery period to a month. It’s also important to break during games to rest.
- Wear Protective Gear: Wear protective pads and cups, helmets, face guards, mouth pieces, and eyewear.
- Stretch: Stretching is vital to reducing your risk of injury. Do so before and after a workout.
- Train: Ensure you’re training or practicing on days you’re not playing. This includes working on your flexibility, strength training, or cardio.
- Follow Safety Instructions: Stick to the rules of the game.
Treatment
You can do everything in your power to reduce the risk of injury, but sometimes, it just happens. Be aware of treatment options, regardless.
Depending on the damage, the method of treatment will vary. Some wounds require the rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) method. This e should be followed for mild injuries only, within the first 48 to 72 hours, to alleviate pain and swelling. If you don’t see any improvements, contact a medical professional.
If you or your child experience an extensive injury such as a sprain, strain, inflammation, fracture, or dislocation, you should call visit a hospital or call your physician immediately.
Plastic surgeons can treat lacerations, facial trauma, and skin punctures while ensuring the wound heals properly, leaving the resulting skin smooth and nearly scarless. They also have the ability to remove sutures when the injury has been repaired.
How Buglino Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Can Help
Buglino Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery’s laceration repair division BooBoosRX specializes in lacerations, skin punctures, complex wounds, facial trauma, abrasions or road rash, burn treatment, suture removal, and scar revision. Dr. Anthony Buglino also has expertise in pediatric repairs, providing specialized medical care to children.
To get your visit started, contact us at the time of the injury. Call (516) 864-0700. Dr. Buglino will meet you at his Woodbury office, an urgent care facility, or the hospital. If the wound is severe, Dr. Buglino will inform you to go straight to the hospital, where he will help fast track the process.
